Window shade



1955 J. NORTH ET AL 2,702,081

4 Sheets-Sheet l WINDOW SHADE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 WW I N f 0 M MMM w a m k 12 M? 1955 J. NORTH ET AL 2,702,081

WINDOW SHADE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Jo/m Nari/z,

y EsZ/zer Nari/z Feb. -15, 1955 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 J. NORTH ET AL WINDOW SHADE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS: Jolzlz JVOIZ/L AZ ofmzy Feb. 1955 J. NORTH ET AL 2,702,081

' WINDOW SHADE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a I 6 79 (7 (7 j 729 6 76 7 6 '9 INVENTORS. fa/212 Norfic Al i rlzqg k United States PatentO WINDOW SHADE John North and Esther North, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 5, 1951, Serial No. 260,012

15 Claims. (Cl. 160-120) This invention relates to a window shade of that type which comprises a pair of parallelly disposed flexible sheets mounted upon and capable of being wound and unwound from individual rollers, each sheet having a plurality of vertically disposed, parallel opaque stripes alternated with a plurality of transparent or translucent stripes, and the sheets being relatively shiftable laterally in order to block out the rays of the sun or other source of light. The degree of overlap of the opaque stripes will depend upon the intensity as well as the position of the source in their relation to the illumination desired within the room. The shades are preferably arranged for variation in the front-to-back spacing of the sheets, which will effect the transmission of more or less of the light depending, in turn, upon the then extent of overlap of the stripes. Such variation in the front-to-back spacing is preferably over a range beginning with a predetermined spacing equal approximately to the width of a stripe and reducing to zero, i. e. with both sheets in actual contact.

Where in the following description and claims I refer to opaque stripes and transparent stripes, it will be comprehended that these are to be regarded as relative terms only, and that substantially opaque and substantially transparent, i. e. translucent, are within contemplation.

In our co-pending application Serial No. 619,394, filed September 29, 1945, now Patent Number 2,581,433, dated January 8, 1952, we have disclosed a window shade of the general character aforesaid. The present application comprehends improvements in certain details of the construction and mode of operation of the article to which the former application relates.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide improved means for supporting the'rollers upon which the sheets are carried in order to facilitate installation and maintenance.

Another object is to provide gearing means to enable joint rotation of the rollers in the same sense, together with means for permitting rapid meshing and unmeshing of the gearing means when the shade is assembled and disassembled.

Still another object is to provide improved means for shifting one of the shades laterally with respect to the er.

A further object resides in improved means for altering the front-to-back spacing of the sheets constituting the body of the shades.

Another object lies in improved mechanism for maintaining the lower edge of the respective shade members in parallelism while permitting lateral shifting of at least one thereof.

Another object resides in gearing the rollers for joint rotation in order that the spring-winding mechanism individual to a roller may not, when improperly controlled, cause that roller to run away.

Still another object is to provide in a shade of the class described means forlaterally shifting one of the shades and means for varying the front-to-back spacing of the sheets, both of said means being actuable from one side of the shade.

Other objects will appear from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the assembled shade in position on the window;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged broken transverse cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, on a scale somewhat larger than that of Fig. 1, to show certain details of construction;

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective to illustrate the bailoperating and the shade traversing mechanisms;

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective showing the gearing arrangement and associated mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a cross section to show the gearing arrange ment and latch for the idler pinion thereof;

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a cross section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6, showing the latch in locking position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8, but showing the latch and idler pinion in released position;

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 6, and showing the idler pinion engaged;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to that 'of Fig. 10, but showing the idler pinion disengaged;

Fig. 12 is a perspective detail of the lower rail linkage, viewed from the rear;

Fig. 13 is a perspective detail of the left hand guide rails; and

Fig. 14 is a detail in perspective (partly exploded) of the well-known Hartshorn shade roller mechanism as adapted to the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a pair of rollers 201 and 202 occupying front and rear positions respectively. To each roller is secured, as by cementing or tacking, the upper edge of sheets 203 and 204 respectively, each sheet comprising a plurality of vertically extending parallel, opaque stripes 207 alternated with a plurality of transparent or translucent stripes 208. Preferably the sheets 203 and 204 are of suitable plastic composition having the requisite flexibility, in which event the alternate stripes 207 may comprise strips of a plastic composition of suitable color and opacity while the intervening stripes may be strips of a suitably transparent or translucent character, all of the strips being welded.

or otherwise united at their edges. Alternatively the opaque stripes may be provided by overlaying strips of opaque material on a transparent or translucent background sheet of proper width. It will be understood that in any case the sheets are of such nature that they may be readily wound on and unwound from, the rollers 201 and 202, and which latter are preferably of wood for lightness and low cost, although steel may be used.

. The lower edge of the front sheet 203 (Fig. 12) is preferably attached to a rigid draw bar 212 of wood or other suitable material around which is wrapped and cemented a textile or plastic sheet of harmonious color. The rear sheet 204 is similarly attached to a draw bar 213. As will be clear hereinafter the shades are lowered and raised jointly. 'Hence, for that purpose, the bars 212 and 213 should be possessed of some substantial degree of rigidity to permit raising and lowering of the shades regardless of Where either of the bars may be grasped, or when operated as intended by means of a pull chain or cord to be referred to hereinafter.

The rollers and the parts carried thereby are supported at the left and right on end brackets 215 and 216 respectively, in turn attached by screws 220 to the pulley stiles 217 and 218 respectively of the window, and adjacent the header 219 thereof. Rollers 201 and 202 are of substantially identical construction except that the rear one thereof is shorter by the combined width of one opaque stripe and one transparent stripe for reasons fully described in our application aforesaid, and in other minor particulars to be shortly pointed out.

Each of the rollers is equipped at one end, e. g. the left end, with the well-known Hartshorn mechanism (Fig. 14) and which incorporates a coil spring 221, a springwinding rod 222 having a slot 223 into which one end of the spring is secured, a cup-shaped support 224 at tached to the roller and receiving the other end of the spring, a notched disc 225 secured to the rod 222, and pivoted pawls 226-226 adapted alternatively to engage the disc 225 to restrain the roller against the torque of the spring when the shade is at a selected level. Inasmuch as the operation of the mechanism just detailed is wellknown further elucidation will not be undertaken.

At the outer end of the rod 222 individual to the roll- 3 a I I V V. 3 ers201and 202 there is provided a right-angled bit 231 and'232. In thecase of'the'roller201 the axiallyex tending part of the bit 231 isengaged in a slot 233 and its bent portion 231 behind thefcup-shaped protuberance 234 of the-bracket215 (Figs; Z and 4) ,which'latter, as will be understood, is of sheet rnetal, as is customary. (In Fig. 4 the forward roller has been omitted for clarity.) Thus the left hand endof the roller 201 is restrained laterally While permitting the-bit 231' to; function in its usual manner in winding up the spring 221;

At its right end the roller 201 is provided with a pressedin sleeve 236 (Fig.- 2) having'a hexagonal opening for receiving slidablya congruently hexagonal shank 237 of the gear' member 238. Other correspondingly functioning splined connections'may beemployed. Consequently and assuming endwise retention of the-member 238 by means to lie-described, thegear associated with'said member and the bit 231may both be properlyv positioned notwithstanding-minor departures of the dimension between the stiles 217 and 218 f'ronia predetermined standard.

. In the latter connection' itwillbe understood that the invention shade is intended to be manufactured for stock widths of-windows. However minor variations in such widths areinevitable. By providing adjustment in an axialdirection, e. g.- by means of the sleeve 236 and shank 237 such variations are easily accommodated with-' out the need for making shades exactly dimensioned to such off-normal windows.

At its left end the rear roller 202 is retained by engagement of its bit 232 (Fig. 4) in a slot 241 in the depending leg 242 of a shoe 243; This latter is slidably supported by means of rectangular holes 244 therein on a correspondingly formed track 245 carried in a cantilever manner on the end bracket 215. Thus sliding movement of the shoe 243 is instrumental in traversing laterally the rear roller 202 and itsassociated sheet 204 to shift the opaque stripes of the one shade into and out of lightblocking relation with the transparent stripes'of the other shade.

To effect such lateral shifting the rail 245 carries a sheave 251, and the bracket 215 a pair of sheaves 252-252, over which a cord or equivalent flexible ele-' ment 253 is passed, the ends thereof being knotted through apertures in the shoe 243 or secured thereto by metal links or clips. By means of this arrangement, traverse of the shoe in either direction may be accomplish by pulling upon one side" or the other of the depending loop of the cord 253.

At the right end, support is provided for the rear roller by an arrangement like that already described in connection with the front roller, the corresponding parts being indicated as a sleeve 256 and a gear member 258 including a shank 257 and gear 265. However in this case the relationship between the sleeve and shank is such as to permit not only accommodation of the rear shade'to possible variations in the distance between the stiles, and'as described for the front shade, but to permit lateral shiftin'g'of the rear shade.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 11 each of the'gear members 238 and 258 is provided with a neck 261 adapted to fit withina slot 262 defined by struck-out portions of the bracket 216 (Fig. 7) and whereby the gear members are retained axially during movement of the respective rollerr: relatively thereto.

Preferably the shades are operated in unison, i. e. a pull on one shade will operate both. Accordingly the same are geared for joint movement inthe same direction by providing identical gears 265265 in mesh with an idler pinion 266. In'order to remove the shades from their end bracketsmeans are provided for rapidly disengaging the idler pinion to free the gear members for lifting from their supports. The idler is mounted for axial movement on a rigid pin or stub shaft 271 fixed to the bracket 216, and is retained in one sense by the head 272 of the pin, and in the' other sense by camming portions of an actuator-latch-2-73. In this connection it will be'noted that the center of the idler'is above the common center line of the gears. Thus when the idler is in mesh, the rollers are held securely against accidental dislodgemen't' from operative position.

Actuator 273 preferably comprises an elongated body- 274 having a slot 275 engaged overthe stub shaft 271 for ve'rtieal sliding movement with respect. thereto and includes a'ha'ndle'. 270 at the lower end of said body: In its16wesfposifion' the'ac't'ua'tor is effective to maintain the "11. idler pinion 266 to the left by reason of carn elements 277-277 preferably formed as bent-out portions of the body 274 (Figs 8 and 9), and the elements are provided with inclined entering surfaces which, upon downward movement of the actuator 273, are forced between the bracket 216 and pinion 266 to force the latter to the left into mesh with the gears .265 265. By suitably dimensioning the various parts the cam'elements 277277 may be made to lodge in the space between the pinion 266 and bracket 216 with some degree of friction, thereby to insure against the actuator 273 working loose under vibration due to movement of the gears and pinion. However," if desired detent means may be provided fof maintaining the actuator 273 in either of its two extreme positions.

To disengage the idler 266 the actuator is thrust upwardly to force the fingers or cams 279-279 against the idler to move the same to the right (Fig. 9). If desired both faces of the idler may be crowned or chamfe'red to facilitate cooperation with the cam elementsof'the ac't'uator 273. The arrangement of the latter is such 'thattfie: cams 277-277 clear the idler just as the, cams 279-279:

are beginning to engage the same and'vice versa. It be apparent that when the idler has been retracted (Fig.

9) the right hand'end of the shades and theassoci'ated' gear members 238 and 258 may be lifted to clear the neckportions 261261 over the slots 262. Subsequently the right hand end of each shade may be moved orIswungl forwardly to allow the bent-over portion of the'bits 231 or 232 to be cleared'from their respective slots 233or 241. Moreover it will, be seen that the laterally extending flanges 281 and 282 of the brackets 215 and 216,

provided for support of a fascia strip, define a space for easy removal of the shades, which may also be' removed by tilting the right handends' of the rollers201" and 202' and their associated-gear members below the flanges 281 and 282.

As described inour co-pending application referred to hereinbefore, it is desirable to arrange for moving at least the rear sheet 204 in a front-to-back sense to the spacing between therear and front sheets. To this end we provide a'laterally-extending' bail291 (Figs. 2,

3. and 4) having pivot portions 292-292 swingable'in' bearings 293-.293 forming part of the end brackets215 and 216. As will be apparent from Figs. 4 and 5 forward swinging of the bail 291 will carry with it the rear sheet thereby to reduce the spacingbetweeri'th'e sheets.

to any desired dimension. The limiting conditiofi'of light-blocking action is reached when the opaquestripe's' of one sheet overlap the transparent'stripes ofthe other" sheet and the two sheets are juxtaposed by rrioveme'ntof the bail to its extreme forward position." two sheets then correspond to a conventional opaque window shade.

The mechanismfor actuating the bail" 2 91 forwardly.

comprises a lever 296' having a hook-like portion 297 embracing one of the downwardly extending legs 29$"of the bail. Lever 296 is pivoted at'301 upon the bracket 215, and the proportions and relative positioning 'of the' parts are such that counterclockwise rockin'g'movem'e'nt of-the lever will draw the bail 291 forwardly whil e're lease of the lever will allow the bail to move rearwardly under its own weight and that of the rear sheet 204 thereagainst.

For locking the lever 296 in any of a' plurality of adjusted positions there is provided a pawl 303 hinged at 304 to the bracket 215, and having teeth 305 adaptedjto engage singly and selectively with an ear 306'extending" laterally from the lever 296. A bent-out portion'307 of the ear 307; tension upon thecord'will draw-re ency" the lever and pawl. Consequently the ear306*will -be moved past a succession of teeth 305 andwill when tensionaon the cord is relieved, engagethat' tooth at, which it then happens to be'adjacent; lt -will be notd that following such engagement the weight of the sheet vary In effect the" For this purpose the teeth' 305-have a dowfi However by reason-of the 2.04 and bail 291 will tend to rock the lever 296 in a clockwlse direction to maintain the projection 306 and the then-associated tooth in engagement. For this purpose the other edges of the teeth are cut tangentially to the circles having the pivot 304 as a center. Disengagement of the lever 296 is effected by drawing the cord 311 slightly forwardly and then releasing the same whereupon the engaged tooth is cleared from the ear 306, and the lever 296 freed for return movement. If desired the lower extent of cord 311 may be retained in a convenient position for operation by providing the same with a loop 315 slidable over one side of the cord 253.

As heretofore brought out joint operation of the shades may be effected merely by drawing down the front blind to the desired level or by releasing the same for spring return to a higher elevation. To facilitate such united action and to maintain suitable spacing between the shades in a front-to-back sense the means of Fig. 12 may be employed.

Secured to the draw bar 212 of the front sheet 203 and at the center of its width is a hinge device 321 terminating at the rear in a substantially U-shaped clip 322 adapted to be resiliently forced over a bail 323 hung pivotally on brackets 324324 outstanding from the rear draw bar 213. However the bight of the clip 322 is sufiiciently larger than the diameter of the bail 323 to permit pivotal movement therebetween. By virtue of the foregoing arrangement the parallel spacing between the shades is maintained notwithstanding variation in such spacing as occasioned by actuation of the bail 291, there being two points at which hinging may occur, namely, where the clip 322 is applied over the bail 323, and at the hinge pintle 320. Moreover, since there will be inevitable variations in winding and unwinding of the two sheets 203 and 204 depending upon the exact nature of the material from which these are made and the behaviour thereof, some provision is preferably made for possible difference in elevation between the lower edge of each sheet. Such condition is also readily accommodated by the mechanism just detailed.

By virtue of the spring clip 322 the hinge device 321 may be rapidly disconnected from the bail 323 for access to the shades for cleaning or when disassembling the shades. Additionally by reason of the clearance between the clip 322 and the bail 323 lateral shifting of the rear shade may be accomplished without binding. Manipulation of the sheets up and downis facilitated by means of a pull 310 secured to the device 321. Preferably the edges of at least the front sheet are guided by extending the draw bar 212 beyond thevertical edges of the sheet (Fig. 13) and by arranging a guide channel 331 at each stile 217 and 218. For this purpose wood strips 332 or metalchannels may be utilized.

Often the pawls of a Hartshorn mechanism fail to engage the notched disc when tension on the sheet is released. When this occurs the shade is said to have run away and is evidenced by complete unwinding of the spring. Accordingly the shade must be taken down and rewound by means of a procedure which is timeconsuming and bothersome. It will have become clear from the preceding description that by reason of the constant geared relationship of the two rollers one thereof cannot run away. Assuming that one roller'does tend to run away it is effectively restrained by the other. The possibility of the Hartshorn mechanism associated with both rollers misfunctioning simultaneously is too remote to warrant consideration.

Furthermore by disengaging the idler pinion the rollers are free for manipulation independently. Thus the lower end of the sheets may be aligned while the rollers are supported in the end brackets. When alignment has been accomplished the idler pinion is locked into axial position, whereupon neither sheet may be raised or lowered independently of the other.

Another advantage of the construction described lies in positioning the controls for shifting the rear sheet laterally and to and fro on one side of the window with resulting convenience of handling.

Of further note is the means shown in Fig. 12 for maintaining the spaced relation between the sheets. For example, wind against the rear sheet could, in the absence of the spacing means, vary the adjusted back-tofront spacing of the sheets and could, moreover, cause the rear sheet to strike the front sheet with annoying clatter therefrom. The means described-successfully elimmates such occurrences.

While we have shown particular embodiments of our invention, it will be understood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and we therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a window shade of the class described comprising a pair of rollers each having a shade windable thereon and unwindable therefrom, means for effecting joint rotation of said rollers upon actuation of one of the shades, end brackets for supporting said rollers, and means for effecting lateral shifting of at least one of the rollers, including an elongated guideway extending parallel to the said one roller and supported on one of said end brackets; a shoe having an aperture engageable over said guideway to slidably support said shoe thereon, one of said rollers having a Hartshorn mechanism including a pintle having a projection thereon, the shoe having means for engaging said projection and pintle for shifting the roller laterally upon corresponding movement of the shoe and while permitting operation of the Hartshorn mechanism, means for shifting said shoe in either direction, the other said roller having a Hartshorn mechanism including a pintle and means on one of said brackets for engaging said last pintle for actuation of the other Hartshorn mechanism. 1

2. A window shade of the class described comprising a pair of parallelly disposed rollers each having a flexible sheet adapted to be wound thereupon and unwound therefrom, an end bracket having means for supporting one of the ends of each roller and an opposite end bracket, each said roller having at the end adjacent said opposite bracket a co-axial gear connected to the roller and rotatable therewith, a pivot having a peripheral groove outstanding from each said gear, said opposite end bracket having means for engaging said groove to support the associated end of each roller, an idler pinion normally in mesh with each said gear, a stud outstanding from said opposite end bracket and slidably and rotatably receiving said pinion and means for shifting said pinion axially for meshing and unmeshing the same with respect to said gears.

3. A window shade of the class described comprising a pair of parallelly disposed rollers each having a flexible sheet adapted to be wound thereupon and unwound there- 1. from, an end bracket having means for supporting one of the ends of each roller and an opposite end bracket,

each said roller having at the end adjacent said opposite bracket a co-axial gear connected to the roller and rotatable therewith, a pivot outstanding from each said A gear, said opposite end bracket having a bearing individual to each said pivot for rotatably supporting each said roller, an idler pinion normally in mesh with said gears and connecting the same for joint rotation in the same direction, means on said opposite end bracket rotatably and axially slidably supporting said pinion, and means for shifting said pinion in both directions on said pinionsupporting means to engage and disengage the same with respect to said gears.

4. Mechanism in accordance with claim 3 in which said pinion-shifting means comprises an actuator slidably supported on said opposite end bracket and having a camming element for engagement with a face of said p1n1on.

5. Mechanism in accordance with claim 3 in which said pinion-shifting means comprises an actuator slidably supported on said opposite end bracket and having a pair of camming elements, one of said elements being operatively engageable with one face of said pinion upon movement of said actuator in one direction and the other of said elements being operatively engageable with the opposite face of said pinion upon reverse movement of said actuator.

6. Mechanism in accordance with claim 2 wherein are included detent means common to said actuator and opposite end bracket for selectively retaining said actuator in positions corresponding to engaged and disengaged positions of said idler pinion.

7. A window shade of the class described comprising a front roller and a rear roller, each roller carrying a sheet windable thereupon and unwindable therefrom,

eachsheet' having' a plurality of opaque vertical 'str'ipes alternated with a plurality of non-opaque stripes, rr 1e ,ans for shiftingat'least one offsaid rollersto move the opaque stripes of thesh'ee't individual thereto into and out of lightblocking relation with the transparent stripes of the other sheet, ajgear carried atone end of each said roller .and ke'ye'd to-said roller=forrotation therewith, a member protruding from the outer'face of each gear, ap'airof end brackets forsupporting said shade With respect to the window, oneofsaid brackets having open-endedslotsgfor receiving said members, an idler pinion normally in mesh with said gears to rotatably connect the same, said one of .saidbrac'kets, 'having'a stud for supportinglsaid idler, the-axis of said stud being displaced oil? the common center line of the axes of said gears in a direction the same as, the open endjof saidslots whereby when the, pinion is 'in'me'sh ,with said gears said members are retained-"in their "individual slots and upon disengagement of said pinion 'fsaid'mernbers may be dislodged from said slots, and means for movingsaid pinion into and out of mesh with respect to said gears. a

v '8'. In a windowshade'of the -.class described comprising a front roller and a rear roller, 'each roller having a flexible 'sheet windable thereonand unwindable therefrom, said sheets being disposed in spaced-apart parallel relation,vand means for varying said relation comprising afbail extending across atleast'one of said sheets, and a bracket at' each side of the shade including pivots for said bail; mechanism for swinging said bail to vary the front-to-back spacing of said sheets comprising a rocker'lever pivoted on one of said brackets and having afportio'n at one end engaging said "bail for imparting swinging movement thereto, a'latchpivoted at one end onsaid one bracket and having a plurality of notches therein, the other end ofsaidlever having a portion for engagement with one of said notches selectively to maintain a predeterminedposition of said 'lever, and single means for rocking said lever and engaging said latch with the selected'one of saidnotches.

9. A window shade, in'accordance with claim'8 wherein said single means comprises'an elongatedflexible member, one end of which is secured'to said other end of said lever, 'and said latch isprovided at its free end with an aperture for passage, of said member, whereby 'the said other end of said lever may be traversed from ,notch to notch upon tension being applied to said member'and caused to engage a notch upon release of said tension, the said other end of said lever in any of its s'everal selectible positions being disposed between the pivoted end of said latch and said latch aperture, the operating end of'said flexible member being on that side .of said aperture remote from said other end of said'lever.

,10. In a window shade of the class described 'comprising afront'roller and a rear'roller, each roller having a flexible sheetwindablethereon and. unwindable there-- from, said sheets being disposedin spaced-apart .parallel relation, and means for varying said relation comprising a bailexte'ndin'g across atleast one of said sheets,ra1 1d a bracket at each, end of the shade; mechanism carried by atjleast one of said bracketsfor actuating'saidbail toward and away from said one of said sheets. and a notched latching device for maintaining a selected position of said bail, and .common means for-actuating said mechanism and device "11. A window shade of the class described comprising ia front rolleriand a rear roller parallel therewith, each roller havinga flexible sheet associatedltherewith and 'Windable thereon and unwindable therefrom, each sheet said sheets, each saidsheet having a rigid member at the free end thereof, and means for maintaining said sheets in parallekrelationcomprising a bailcarried on one of said members and having a straight portion between the pivots, adevice' hingedly mounted on the other of said members, saiddevicehaving a portion slidably engaged over said straight bail portion.

12. A window shade in accordance with claim 11 in which thezbail engaging portion of said deviceis of U- formhaving at least one resilient leg to define a throat narrower than the engaging transverse dimension of said bail portion and a bight larger thansaid bail portion for snap-type engagement and disengagement of said device and bail. v

r 13. A window shade'in accordance withclaim 12 wherein an element is'carriedbythe hingedportion of said device for lowerin'g'and raising the shade.

14. In a window shade of the class described comprising a pair of shade rollers, means for eflecting joint rotation of said rollers uponvactuation of one of the shades, end brackets for supporting said rollers, and means for effecting lateral shifting of at least one. of the rollers, including a guideway outstanding from one of said brackets anda 'shpe supported slidably on said guideway,said.one of said rollers having an elem'entengaging said'shoe for shifting said one roller upon movement of said shoe; meansfor 's liding said'shoe' upon said guideway including a single sheave .carried on the free end ofthe guideway, ,a 'pair 'ofsheaves mounted on said bracket, acdrdpassed over said sheaves, the ends or" the cord being secured to saidjshoe.

15. In a window shade of the class described apair of rollers upon which "flexible sheets are adapted to be woundand unwound, gears severally operatively connected to eachof said rollers androtatable therewith, an idler pinion in mesh with said 'g'ears whereby rotation of one of said rollerswill rotate .the other said roller, means for retaining saidfpinio'n in mesh with said gears and'forfdisengaging said idler to free said gears and the rollers individual thereto for independent movement, said idler pinion beingrotatably supported and axially slidable upon afixedpivot, and'said-pinion-retaining and pinion-disengaging means comprising an actuator having camming surfaces respectivelyengagealzrle with the op posite faces of said pinion toselec'tively'slide said pinion axially into and out of meshing engagement with said gears.

References Qitediin theffile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

